Visit the 4th of July website for updateshttps://www.franklin4th.com/Consider contributing to the nonprofit volunteer based organization that does all the work to put this event together. There is a donation button on the webpage.

"My uncle Jim, a father of two teenagers, has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He is an incredible and humorous person who has spent the last 19 years caring for my two cousins as well as my sister and me. He has taught me about music and the bigger meanings in life since I was born. He still has two teens to put through college, as well as bills and this diagnosis has come at the worst time (job loss, financial struggles).

This money will go into a non-profit my dad and I have created at EastBoca.org, and the money will pay for a variety of my uncles bills that he will struggle to pay. Any donations are extremely appreciated! All of you are so wonderful for helping!"

TUESDAY 7/3/18All Day Drop In Craft @ Franklin Public Library1pm Family Book Tasting Event @ Franklin Public Library6-10pmFranklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common7pm Friends of Franklin Library Book Group @ Franklin Public Library9:30pm Fireworks @ FHS

Visit the 4th of July website for updateshttps://www.franklin4th.com/Consider contributing to the nonprofit volunteer based organization that does all the work to put this event together. There is a donation button on the webpage.

Summer travel is here and the Mass Pike or i90 is one of the major gateways. The interstate highway system grew over the years but was actually born on June 29. From the US Census:

"June 29 marks the anniversary of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Observe this historic day with our activity “The Highway System” that uses an interactive data visualization to examine population density along Interstate 90."

In a well-functioning economy, people who work full time should be able to earn enough to support themselves and their families. That's important for families and for the overall economy, which relies on consumer spending to keep local businesses thriving. Last week, in response to a multiyear grassroots campaign, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted House Bill 4640, which, among other things, would increase the Massachusetts minimum wage from $11 an hour to $15 by 2023. The bill would also increase the minimum wage that employers are obligated to pay tipped workers from $3.75 to $6.75 by 2023.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) has published an analysis of the minimum wage provisions in the bill, which now awaits the Governor's signature or veto. The report, FAQ: The Massachusetts $15 Minimum Wage Proposal, finds the increase would raise the wages of about 840,000 Massachusetts workers, or 25 percent of the workforce.

Of those who will be directly affected by a minimum wage increase, 90 percent are at least 20 years old, 56 percent are women, and 55 percent work full-time.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

The Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation on behalf of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS) is pleased to announce that construction has begun in preparation for the school’s upcoming move to 500 Financial Park Drive in Franklin. The Foundation hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony at the new site on the morning of June 27th. Special guests included Massachusetts State Representative Jeffrey Roy and Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. Donald Tappin, President of the Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation greeted attendees to the ceremony stating “We are very excited for the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, after almost a quarter century as one of the best performing schools in the state, to finally have a home of its own. We look forward to having the capacity to bring our academic success and most importantly, the culture of character development and community service to even more students and their families. This project of ours has been a long-time in the making and would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of many individuals.” Massachusetts State Representative Jeffrey Roy presented the school with a special citation on behalf of the House of Representatives in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offering the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School a sincere congratulations in recognition of the next chapter in the school’s educational journey. Head of School Heather Zolnowski closed the ceremony sharing “I am honored to be able to speak on behalf of the students, faculty, staff and parents of BFCCPS to thank everyone who worked so hard over the past 6 years to make this dream a reality. This is an exciting time in the history of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School. The new facility and grounds will provide the administration and faculty with the opportunity to enhance an already very successful academic program, provide a comfortable and safe environment for students, faculty and staff and secure the schools future for decades to come. Our expanded school facility will allow us to address our historically long waiting list for enrollment and welcome more students into our school community than ever before. These opportunities would not be possible without the collaboration, hard work and dedication of the people standing before us today.”Following the ”turning of the soil” invited guests received a tour to highlight progress at the site. The building’s foundation has been poured, and steel delivery for the building’s frame has commenced. The new 72,000 square foot facility will open for the 2019-2020 school year. Event photography and aerial photography of the site are available here.The Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation secured funding for the new school primarily through a $24,550,000 tax-exempt bond issued by MassDevelopment and purchased by Citizens Bank with participation by HarborOne Bank, Websterfive Bank and Radius Bank. The bond financing was supplemented with a $2,000,000 loan provided by The Property and Casualty Initiative.The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School opened in 1995 and is one of the original 13 Charter Schools in the state of Massachusetts. Priority in the schools annual enrollment lottery is given first to siblings of current students, then to residents of Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Milville, Norfolk, Plainville, Upton, Walpole, and Wrentham. The educational program at BFCCPS offers a strategic partnership with parents, rigorous academic program, foreign language instruction, commitment to arts education, character education, and community service activities. For the 2019-2020 academic year, BFCCPS will increase enrollment from 50 students to 92 students per grade in Grades Kindergarten through Grade Five resulting in a total of 290 new spaces. Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will go live on November 1, 2018.Over the next ten years, enrollment will expand from the current cap of 450 students to a total of 900 students. Families that are interested in enrollment at BFCCPS can learn more at www.bfccps.org/about/enrollment and candidates for employment are encouraged to follow http://bfccps.org/about/employment for ongoing information.

With the Franklin 4th of July Celebration beginning today, there will NOT be a Farmers Market on the Town Common. The Mass Grow web page has an interactive map to enable finding other markets near Franklin

Thursday, June 28, 2018

"Beginning this fall, all commuter-rail passengers will be able to pay their fares on-board with a credit or debit card, according to Keolis Commuter Services, the MBTA’s operating partner.

In a press release, Keolis and MBTA officials said a new mobile point of sale (POS) system has been tested and refined since February, and over the next two months will be expanded to include all conductors.

“This upgrade gives our customers an additional, convenient way to pay fares, and gives conductors another way to sell on-board tickets that is easier and simpler than using cash and counting change,” MBTA General Manager Luis Manuel Ramírez said in a prepared statement. “As we plan for the future of fare collection that is fully integrated across all modes, this new technology shows that we’ll continue to look for improvements under the existing system.”

"From the day the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School moved into the Archdiocese of Boston-owned St. Mary’s building on 201 Main St. in 1995, they did not expect to stay in that building forever.

“We are very tied to how many students we can have in that building,” said Heather Zolnowski, current head of school at BFCCPS. Zolnowski will be executive director of the school for the upcoming academic year.

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony at 500 Financial Park Drive signifies many years of hard work to expand the regional charter school in hopes that it can become a more flexible learning space that can accommodate more students."

“Active shooter, Tri-County High School! White male, green jacket!” the voice boomed over the police radio on Wednesday morning.

Adrenaline spiked.

Franklin Police Officer Jack Flynn grabbed a rifle mounted between two seats, while I ran to the back of the cruiser and slipped on my body armor. We quickly advanced toward the building with weapons drawn, using the cruisers and a dumpster for cover.

While one officer advanced, the other kept an eye out for the active shooter."

As the nation heads toward the 2020 census, new estimates show that 104,000 (29 percent) of the state's youngest children live in neighborhoods where the census has historically had difficulty achieving an accurate count.

Counting all people in the state accurately plays an important role in determining federal funding for communities. While Massachusetts is ranked second in the nation on child well-being, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an undercount of Massachusetts children could adversely impact the programs and supports that have aided the state's progress and allowed children to thrive. MassBudget is the KIDS COUNT® organization for Massachusetts.

An undercount could affect the services that help the families make ends meet. In Fiscal Year 2015, the federal government supported Massachusetts children in a variety of ways, such as through $280.9 million for special education services, $146.9 for the Head Start program, and $76.3 million for affordable child care.

The annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book uses 16 indicators to rank each state across four domains - health, education, economic well-being, and family and community - as an assessment of child well-being. Massachusetts ranks second overall. According to the Data Book, Massachusetts leads the nation in health measures, reading levels and mathematic achievement, but the share of children living in poverty is the same as it was in 2010 - 14 percent. Within each domain, Massachusetts ranks:

11th in economic well-being. The share of Massachusetts children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment decreased by 10 percent since 2010.

Second in education. Massachusetts children remain first in mathematic achievement (with 50 percent of eighth-graders scoring at or above proficient level) and reading level (with 51 percent of fourth-graders scoring at or above proficient level). The number of 3- and 4-year olds attending school has stayed essentially the same since 2009-2011.

First in health. The state remains first in the nation in ensuring children have health insurance and has seen a slight decrease since 2010 in the percent of babies born with a low birthweight.

Ninth in family and community domain. The state has seen a 47 percent drop in teen birth rates since 2010, and has seen a slight decrease in the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods. In 2016, about 8 percent of children lived in high-poverty neighborhoods.

Massachusetts' rankings on economic well-being and in the family and community domain indicate that raising the incomes of low- to middle-income families and improving employment opportunities remain important challenges for the Commonwealth. Getting an accurate scope of the challenges, however, requires an accurate census count.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

"Decorating for the Fourth of July isn’t quite like putting up lights for the holidays, but to a row of Union Street houses across from the Franklin Common, it’s important to brandish their nation’s colors.

Heidi Mahr and her husband bought their home at 17 Union St. from her mother-in-law in April, making this the first time they’re taking part in the decorative tradition.

“My husband used to hang the decorations for my mother-in-law,” she said. “She also used to pay somebody to come and hang them up for her.”

"When teenagers finally reach the age to apply for a driver’s permit and license, it represents their first step toward individual freedom.

This milestone, however, stifles some of the excitement for teenagers and adults who are told they must identify as a gender on their license, although they do not identify with either option provided.

This was the case for Ella, a young adult who was nearing the time to apply for their license. As a proud teenager who is nonbinary - someone who does not identify as either male or female - Ella did not understand why someone should have to choose between putting male or female on their permit and license.

Ella wrote to state senator, Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, to find out if that could be changed."

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Adult Road Race: The race will kick off at 11:00 AM. Adult Road Race will start at the Town Common (200 Main Street). Mile splits will be given at 1st and 2nd miles. A water station will be available at the 2-mile mark. Make sure you look for the orange arrows along the route. Please be extra careful of cars along Maple Street.Register online for the Adult Road Race at RaceWire https://my.racewire.com/event/5719

The Children’s Road Race is a fun 1.2 mile road race designed to let boys and girls ages 6-12 years old participate in running. This road race has been a tradition for over 30 years, held on the Saturday that Franklin celebrates the 4th of July Celebration. For years the Franklin Recreation Department has coordinated this event free of charge to all runners.This year the road race will take place on Saturday, June 30, 11 AM. Registration for the event 10:45 AM or online, and the race will kick off at 11:45 AM. The participants will begin the race by meeting at the gazebo for a race orientation to review safety precautions, and race details. Racers will run, walk, or jog up Crescent, take a right onto Martin Ave., right onto School Street, right onto Main Street. At the St. Mary’s Church, participants will turn left and follow around the Common, take a left onto High Street, left at the corner of High Street and Main Street back down to the finish at the center of the Common.Children's Fun Run Course Map http://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/files/childrens-fun-run-course-mapThis was shared from the Town of Franklin Recreation pagehttp://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/news/4th-july-road-raceFor the full schedule of Franklin 4th of July Celebration visit https://www.franklin4th.com/

Jean George, the Vocational Director at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, has been an icon at the school for the past 38 years. Jean first started teaching in Early Education at the school in 1980. She taught Early Education until 2006 when she became the school’s Vocational Director.“Suddenly I was all my peers’ boss,” said Jean. “I had to motivate and manage the people I worked with every day.” Jean states, “Becoming the Vocational Director has allowed me the best of both worlds. Having been a vocational teacher myself, I could help the other teachers in supporting their growth and development while being able to grow the vocational programs for the school.” In fact, during her tenure Jean has created four new Chapter 74 Vocational Programs to serve the students and the community: Construction Craft Laborers, Dental Assisting, Engineering, and Legal and Protective Services.

Jean George

Jean says her passion as both an educator and a Vocational Director has been supporting every student to help them gain the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their future, whatever they decide to do, whether it’s college, post-secondary, working, or the military.Jean believes throughout history, children haven’t changed. They still have the same attributes and qualities. She finds students to be authentic, honest, fun to work with and similar in nature in regards to their feelings and emotions. She says “Their issues may be different in today’s world with all the new technology, but underneath it all, students are basically the same and have the same core needs.”Her philosophy in teaching has always been that each student has their own individual and unique qualities and attributes. Each student has his or her own story. Once we know their story, we can serve the student both academically and emotionally. Every student is a valuable asset to this school and contributes to the culture of this school.“I’ve loved my years at Tri-County,” reflects Jean. “I had students that I’ve taught in preschool and was able to see them again in the high school and then as a parent of a preschooler. You could say I’ve seen the whole cycle of a preschooler.” She laughs and remembers fondly, “It’s been like a second home where children grow, leave, come back and tell me all about their lives.” In addition to her experience as an Early Education teacher and a Vocational Director at Tri-County, Jean has also taught as an adjunct professor at Dean College in Franklin MA.Now Jean is ready to leave behind the history of her professional life and delve into the unknown future. She looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, traveling, playing golf with friends, and of course, keeping abreast of education and trends.Always an educator, Jean will continue to serve on the Advisory Committee for Early Education and Special Education students at Regis College and will remain in her role as a liaison to facilitate OSHA training for teachers at the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA).Stephen Dockray, Superintendent, states “Jean has impacted thousands of lives through her work as an Early Education teacher and Vocational Director. Throughout her career, Jean has always put the students first. It is that approach, along with her compassionate and caring nature, that has enabled her to enjoy such a long and impactful career working with students in our community. She has demonstrated her unwavering leadership and commitment, and we thank her for her years of service here at Tri-County.”

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.